Our Italy Dolomites Farm Stay (Agriturismo Experience)

Of all the places we’ve ever stayed as a family on our travels, our Dolomites farm stay with kids in Italy has been some of our favourite memories. 

It’s hard to describe but for that one week you really feel part of the farm, the family, you feel like  a local and you are welcomed like a friend visiting, not a guest.

The farms give you space – space to hike, space to breathe, and space for the kids to just be kids.

If you’re heading to the Dolomites with kids and wondering whether a farm stay (agriturismo) is worth it, here’s everything you need to know.

Why We Chose a Farm Stay in the Italy Dolomites

I knew from our last trip to Italy that I LOVED staying at a family-owned agriturismo and that we’d want to do it again.

On this trip, my husband had to work remotely for a week, so we needed a solid home base. Somewhere we could explore in the mornings, then come back mid-afternoon so he could log on.

That meant:

• Space for the kids to play
• Outdoor areas to hang out
• A pool (non-negotiable in July)
• A kitchen so we weren’t eating out every night

A farm stay checked every box.

What Is an Agriturismo and How is it Different From a Hotel?

An agriturismo is a farm stay, usually a working farm or family-run rural property with apartments or rooms for guests.

They are:

• Family-owned
• Much more personal than a hotel
• Often apartment-style
• Located outside main tourist centers
• Focused on local, authentic experiences

Our farm stay, Koflerhof Ferienwohnungen, had five apartments. The hosts lived on site and were always around, watering the garden, chatting with guests, bringing fresh vegetables.

It feels so much more personal than a hotel.

Where Ours Was Located (And Why That Matters)

We stayed in South Tyrol (also known as Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol), one of the most fascinating regions in Italy. The Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage mountain range in northeastern Italy, span a huge area, so choosing the right base really matters.

One of the most confusing things about this region? Most places have three names: Italian, German, and Ladin!

South Tyrol is where the biathlon events of the 2026 Winter Olympics were held, and it’s also near Cortina d’Ampezzo, where the women’s alpine skiing, luge, and bobsleigh events took place.

On our first Italy trip, we visited Rome, Venice, Florence, Cinque Terre, and Tuscany (3 Weeks in Italy With Kids for Under $10K: Our Family Budget & Itinerary). This time, I wanted mountains. Cooler temperatures. Hiking. An Italy much different from what we see on social media.

July in Central and Southern Italy can be extremely hot. In South Tyrol, temperatures at the farm were 25-28°C. Warm enough for the pool, but not sweltering. Up in the mountains while hiking, it was even cooler, low 20s and absolutely perfect.

A map of the area we were in.

Our farm was about a 15-minute drive from the town of Siusi, where you can take the cable car up to Alpe di Siusi for incredible hiking. We were also about 20 minutes from Ortisei in the Val Gardena valley, where another cable car gives access to even more stunning trails.

There were plenty of grocery stores within a 10–15 minute drive, which made self-catering easy.

We were close to Bolzano, a city I had read so much about. It’s this incredible blend of Italian and German culture. Pizza and pasta alongside dumplings, strudel, speck, Italian cafés and German beer houses. A stunning city that doesn’t look like any other Italian city I’ve visited.

I loved being close to a city without staying in it.

How We Got There and What You Should NOT do

We flew into Rome on WestJet (direct from Calgary – love me a direct flight!), using companion fares and some points, bringing our total flight cost to $3340 CAD for four of us.

Our flight landed at 11am and we planned to drive straight to the farm. I knew this was ambitious but I didn’t want to waste a night somewhere I didn’t want to be.

Do not do this.

Between customs and rental car delays (we were number 116 on the waitlist…I don’t know if it’s just our bad luck but both times we’ve rented a car in Italy it has taken 10 times longer than anywhere else), we didn’t leave the airport for hours. By the time we started driving, we were exhausted.

We arrived well after dark, navigating winding mountain roads. I do not recommend attempting a 6-hour mountain drive after a long-haul flight!

Better Options

If flying into Rome:

• Take the train from the airport to Roma Termini
• Take a direct train to Bolzano (about 5 hours, approx $80 CAD)
• The trains tend to arrive late (11pm) so stay one night in Bolzano
• Pick up your rental car in the morning

We’ve always booked our Italy train tickets through Omio with no issues. Use my LINK for 10 Euros off your first booking!

Other options: fly into Venice, Milan, or Munich and drive to your accommodation.

Venice → ~3 hours to Bolzano
Milan → ~3.5 hours
Munich → ~3.5 hours

That makes your travel day much more manageable.

We’ve always used Europcar for our car rentals in Italy and France.

Do You Need a Car in the Dolomites?

Short answer: It makes things easier.

We had a car and I’m very glad we did. It gave us flexibility to reach different hiking trailheads quickly, get groceries, go into Bolzano whenever we wanted.

However, it is not mandatory.

Most accommodations provide a Südtirol Guest Pass, which gives free public transportation across South Tyrol – buses, trains, and some cable cars.

The downside? Time.

A 20-minute car ride can become an hour-long bus ride.

Our rental car cost $1141 CAD for the week (including gas, a flat tire repair, and a one-way drop fee).

If you’re planning to explore multiple areas and hike often, a car is worth it.

If you’re staying local and comfortable with slower transit, you can absolutely save money using the Guest Pass.

We still used the pass for some public bus rides within Bolzano as well as our train ride from Bolzano to San Candido (on our way to Austria) which saved us $148CAD. So even if you get a rental car, staying somewhere that provides the free pass is well worth it.

What Our Farm Stay Included

Our apartment included:

• 2 bedrooms (queen + small single room + sofa bed)
• Kitchen
• Living area
• Spacious bathroom
• Ground-floor patio with outdoor table
• BBQ area
• Pool
• Vegetable garden
• Goats, chickens, rabbits, dog, cats
• Trampoline, swing set, ping pong, foosball, basketball, darts
• Free parking
• Optional breakfast (extra cost)
• E-bike rentals available

The apartment itself was small, but we barely noticed. We were outside almost all day.

Because we arrived late, we added breakfast the first morning. After that, we used the kitchen and BBQ. The hosts brought us fresh tomatoes and cucumbers from their garden almost daily, such a treat!

After exploring for the day, my husband would set up to work and the kids and I would happily hang out at the farm for the rest of the day – snacking, swimming, playing and enjoying a glass of wine or two (me!). And at night the parents would get to chatting – of course most of the German parents could speak some English so that helped!

What the Kids Loved Most

The pool!

Always the pool.

In Calgary, almost no one has a pool. It feels like a luxury every time.

But beyond that, they loved:

• Feeding the goats
• Visiting the rabbits daily
• Running around freely
• Playing with other kids staying there
• The ride-alongs, they’d rip around the property on

There were a few German families with kids similar in age. Even without sharing a language, they jumped on the trampoline together and played ping pong.

It was the kind of childhood freedom you want for your kids but sometimes it’s hard to come by in the city.

As a parent, it was relaxing. I didn’t have to organize anything. I could just sit back and watch.

What It Cost

$1575 CAD for 7 nights.

About $225CAD per night for four people.

With:

• Kitchen
• Pool
• Outdoor space
• Animals
• Play areas
• Parking

Two hotel rooms in the Dolomites would have easily cost more and we wouldn’t have had the space or atmosphere.

For us, it was absolutely worth it.

Who a Dolomites Farm Stay Is Perfect For

Perfect for:

• Families with kids
• Multi-generational trips
• Hikers
• People renting a car
• Families wanting slower mornings and outdoor space

Maybe not ideal for:

• One-night stays
• People wanting nightlife or walkability
• Travelers without a car who want maximum flexibility

How to Find a Good Farm Stay in the Dolomites

Search terms that worked for me:

• “Agriturismo South Tyrol with pool”
• “Farm stay near Bolzano”
• “Dolomites apartment with kitchen”

Platforms:

• Booking.com (search “South Tyrol”)
• Google Maps (zoom in and search “hotel”)
• Roterhahn.it (farm stays in South Tyrol)
• Agriturismo.it (Italy-wide)

Final Thoughts

If you’re heading to the Dolomites with kids, don’t just choose somewhere convenient.

Choose somewhere that becomes part of the experience!

For us, the farm wasn’t just where we slept.

It’s a core memory from our trip!

This farm stay was part of a bigger trip that included Italy, Austria and Croatia. To read more about the entire trip click HERE.

Related Posts You May Like:

• Our Italy Dolomites Farm Stay (Agriturismo Experience)
• Letting Your Teen Travel Abroad Alone: How to Prepare (From a Mom Doing It)
• Our 3 Weeks in Italy, Austria, and Croatia with Kids (Route, Stays + Costs)
• What is a Eurocamp and Why It’s Amazing for Family Travel in Europe
• Planning a Trip to Japan with Kids? Here’s the Exact Guide We Used

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you choose to book or purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only ever share places, tools, and resources we’ve genuinely used and found helpful for our own family travels.